Author Topic: Fender Jazzmaster and Jaguar Pickups (Read 16812 times)

Elliot · « **on:** May 19, 2005, 11:34:20 PM »

Can anyone (not necessarily the very busy Tim) explain the design or what is different about these pups in their vintage form?

Also is it true that the Jap Fenders have strat pups fitted into Jazz/Jag cases?

Do BKP make them on special order, if not are Duncan antiquity's any good at getting that Surf/Ventures/Pulp Fiction ending (i.e. Lively Ones) tone?

(Although I must commend BKP Apaches if surf tone is on the cards - coz they is the best surf tone I has heard)

HJM · « **Reply #1 on:** May 20, 2005, 08:30:36 AM »

Quote from: Elliot

Can anyone (not necessarily the very busy Tim) explain the design or what is different about these pups in their vintage form?

Also is it true that the Jap Fenders have strat pups fitted into Jazz/Jag cases?

Do BKP make them on special order, if not are Duncan antiquity's any good at getting that Surf/Ventures/Pulp Fiction ending (i.e. Lively Ones) tone?

(Although I must commend BKP Apaches if surf tone is on the cards - coz they is the best surf tone I has heard)

i don't know much about Jags and Jazzmasters, how about sending the pickup for a rewind?

The amazing Phil · « **Reply #2 on:** May 21, 2005, 09:10:36 AM »

A large ammount of all surf guitar you hear is a strat, Dick Dale did "Misirlou" which was used as Pulp Fiction's main theme on a strat, and I'm sure the lively ones did too. A bit of Dick Dales sound comes from the fact he used ungodly thick strings. .16-60+ if I recall correctly. If BKP don't make pickups that size it's worth enquiring about the possibility of purchasing some that size elsewhere for the sole purpose of being rewound by BKP.

Elliot · « **Reply #3 on:** May 21, 2005, 11:09:30 AM »

I know the Strat was big in the Surf sound - the Belairs and the Chantays used them for lead, the Lively Ones used Jaguars.

I was more interested in the design of the pups - what makes jaguar pups different to Strat one? What makes a Jazzmaster different to a P90?

OK, wont labour the point.....

Ratrod · « **Reply #4 on:** May 21, 2005, 11:11:20 AM »

Maybe this will help: www.jag-stang.com

The amazing Phil · « **Reply #5 on:** May 21, 2005, 09:01:18 PM »

Jag Stangs make me feel like I did when I was 16 and hearing "Smells Like teen Spirit" for the first time. :lol:

Tim · « **Reply #6 on:** May 22, 2005, 09:34:15 PM »

A Jazzmaster coil is very thin and squat, thinner even than a P90.They still have magnetic poles like a Strat single coil but the coil shape the string sees underneath it is much wider, more like a P90.
A P90 differs in so much as it has 2 humbucker sized magnets facing in towards pole screws-this alone provides a lot more power and combined with the squat,fat coil of a P90, a chunkier tone too.

We don't do Jazzmasters simply because there's not much call for them, we do rewind them alot though for customers likewise Jags too.

B3 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 23, 2005, 01:27:50 PM »

Hi, Jag pickups are slightly different shaped bobbins to a Strat. The coil is taller and usually a little hotter. The Stagger pattern on the ones which are staggered (most are flat) is different to a Strat too - more like a Tele bridge stagger. I've also never seen a Jag with anything other than alnico 5 magnets. Jazzmaster pickups are exactly as Tim described, although I would like to add that both Jazzmasters and Jaguars have the two pickups reverse wound and polarity to each other so they're humbucking with them both on together. To me, alot of the Jag sound comes from the short scale length which means you can use heavy strings without them getting too tight and hard on the fingers.

Tim · « **Reply #8 on:** May 23, 2005, 01:43:10 PM »

Thanks for that B3, forgot to mention the RWRP configuration.Fender did this from the outset with both Jag and Jazzmaster alongtime before Strat players cottoned onto it :)

Ratrod · « **Reply #9 on:** May 23, 2005, 02:48:02 PM »

I like jags but there's so much you have to modify on 'em to make 'em good. The bridge saddles are hopeless, you'll have to replace those with Mustang saddles (NO! Not the saddles you put on ponies) and the pickups Fender puts on basicly suck. Yeah, they're good for a clean surf sound but they tend to squeel on distortion. Something like Apache's, Mothers Milks or Irish tours on a Jag would be very nice. :D

Fender knows they're wrong but they won't change a thing because of the 'original freaks'.

Elliot · « **Reply #10 on:** May 24, 2005, 04:17:21 PM »

I heard that Jags and JazzM pups were purposefully not wax potted to give the clean sound. Is that true.

As to Jags - do strat pups just fit in the Jag holes? If so Apaches would be very nice indeed.

Ratrod · « **Reply #11 on:** May 24, 2005, 07:33:54 PM »

Quote from: Elliot

I heard that Jags and JazzM pups were purposefully not wax potted to give the clean sound. Is that true.

As to Jags - do strat pups just fit in the Jag holes? If so Apaches would be very nice indeed.

I've heard that same story.

I don't think strat pups will fit, different mounting system and string spread, I believe.

Tim · « **Reply #12 on:** May 24, 2005, 07:42:58 PM »

You're right, a different spacing and mounting, so Strat coils won't transplant I'm afraid.

FELINEGUITARS · « **Reply #13 on:** May 24, 2005, 09:03:11 PM »

We have had a lot of experience with upgrading Jags
The pickups fitted to the Jap reissues SUCK big time (in my opinion)
We have fitted stock seymour Duncans in the past and been blown away by the difference - the jag actually sounds good!!
Now can you imagine what a BKP rewind would sound like- awesome!!

As said before the bridges rattle and sway too much- we swap it out toatlly for a mustang bridge and we wrap thick tape on the legs to stabilise the bridge to stabilise intonation

Ratrod · « **Reply #14 on:** May 24, 2005, 09:12:45 PM »

Feline is right. The how to's can be found on the website I posted earlier. Some jag fans put a tune-o-matic bridge on them. Some equip them with humbuckers. These are the Kurt Cobain mods. Again, you have to considder the string spacing. So if you want something like this you'll be better off with the new twin humbucker jag but that one doesn't have a vibrato. However, there are Bigsby sets available for these.